Tokoname, on Aichi’s Chita Peninsula, has fired clay for over a millennium. It’s one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns, famed for Tokoname-yaki red clay teapots and sturdy ceramic pipes that literally built modern cities. Today the old kiln town blends workshop alleys, brick chimneys, and climbing kilns with cool cafés and galleries.

Walk the Yakimono Sanpomichi (Pottery Footpath) where walls are stacked with recycled shochu bottles and clay pipes, and peek into studios where kyusu teapots still take shape by hand. Keep an eye out for Tokonyan, the giant beckoning-cat head peering from a wall—a quirky local landmark that nods to Tokoname’s maneki-neko production.

Practical perks: Tokoname sits next to Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO), so you can be in town within minutes. Nagoya specialties—miso katsu, hitsumabushi eel, tenmusu, kishimen—are easy to try at the airport or nearby malls. Museums occasionally close mid-week; check hours before you go. Cash is handy in smaller shops, but cards and IC transit cards are widely accepted.

Tokoname

Tokoname charms ceramics lovers and casual strollers alike. The Pottery Footpath loops past brick chimneys, a dramatic “dokanzaka” slope lined with clay pipes, and tiny ateliers selling handmade cups and kyusu. It’s photogenic and deeply nostalgic—yet very much a living craft town.

• Don’t miss: Yakimono Sanpomichi, Tokonyan (giant maneki-neko), INAX Museums (tile, kilns, and hands-on crafts), Rinku no Yu onsen, and the Centrair Sky Deck for sunset plane-spotting.
• Eat & drink: Taste Nagoya comfort foods—miso katsu pork cutlets, hitsumabushi charcoal-grilled eel, flaky tenmusu rice balls, and morning “Ogura toast” at a kissaten. Seafood is excellent thanks to the nearby coast.
• Stay: Airport-island hotels make late arrivals and early departures effortless, while stationside picks near Tokoname or Rinku Tokoname offer quick access to the pottery lanes.

Where to book stays: Browse centrally located rooms and airport hotels on Hotels.com or check unique homes and apartments on VRBO.

Area favorites (mention-only): Centrair Hotel (inside Terminal 1), Four Points by Sheraton Nagoya Chubu International Airport (spacious, runway views), Comfort Hotel Central International Airport (value), J Hotel Rinku (near Rinku Tokoname Station), and Toyoko Inn Centrair (budget-friendly).

How to get here: Fly into Chubu Centrair (NGO). Compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. If you’re starting in Europe, you can also check Omio flights.

Local transport: From NGO, ride the Meitetsu Tokoname Line to Tokoname Station (2 stops) or Rinku Tokoname (1 stop): about 5–7 minutes and roughly ¥260–¥330. From Nagoya-Meitetsu Station to Tokoname: ~35 minutes on the μ-SKY Limited Express (about ¥1,200–¥1,300 with seat fee) or ~45 minutes by regular express (~¥800–¥900). For intercity rail (e.g., to Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka), browse Trip.com trains.

Day 1: Arrival, Pottery Footpath, and Onsen Evening

Morning: Fly into Chubu Centrair (NGO). If you want instant data, reserve a pickup for the Unlimited 5G SIM card for Japan at the airport counter. Coffee and a Nagoya-style breakfast await: try Komeda Coffee for thick-cut Ogura toast and a morning “service” egg. If you’d rather jump right in, head up to the Centrair Sky Deck for sea-and-runway views.

Afternoon: Take the Meitetsu train 5–7 minutes to Tokoname Station, drop bags, then lace up for a guided walk along the Yakimono Sanpomichi. Book the Private Pottery Road Walking Tour in Tokoname to decode the brick chimneys, the bottle-lined walls, and the famous “dokanzaka” clay-pipe slope with a local guide. You’ll learn why Tokoname’s iron-rich clay makes such excellent teapots and how recycled industrial ceramics became artful urban design.

After the tour, say hello to “Tokonyan,” the giant maneki-neko face watching over town, then browse studio shops for a kyusu teapot or yunomi cup—lightweight, unglazed red-clay pieces are Tokoname signatures.

Evening: Soothe travel-weary legs at Rinku no Yu, a popular onsen facility by Aeon Mall Tokoname, with indoor/outdoor baths and saunas (note: tattoos may require covering). For dinner, seafood lovers go to Maruha Shokudo (Rinku Tokoname): order jumbo fried shrimp with tartar sauce or a sashimi set that showcases the local catch. Craving Nagoya flavors? Back at the airport island you’ll find Yabaton for crisp miso katsu and Maruya Honten for hitsumabushi—charcoal-grilled eel served three ways. Cap the night with a stroll on the Centrair Sky Deck to watch the runway lights flicker over Ise Bay.

Day 2: Meet Makers, INAX Museums, and Hands-on Clay

Morning: Start with a kissaten-style breakfast—Komeda Coffee’s thick toast, Nagoya red-bean spread, and a strong blend are classics. Then join a maker-led walk: Discover The Hidden Pottery Town of Tokoname pairs you with a local ceramic artist who grew up here and studied abroad. Expect studio visits, smart shortcuts along the Pottery Footpath, and insider stories that bring the kilns and chimneys to life.

Afternoon: Head to INAX Museums (check hours; often closed Wednesdays) to see tile history, a preserved brick kiln, and tactile exhibits connecting ancient techniques to contemporary design. Budget 1.5–2 hours across the Tile Museum and Kiln Plaza. For lunch nearby or back toward the station, choose: Maruha Shokudo for seafood rice bowls; a kaiten-zushi chain for quick plates; or a hearty curry or udon set at Aeon Mall Tokoname if you’re short on time. Sweet tooth stop: pick up shrimp rice crackers at Ebi Senbei no Sato Tokoname—tasting samples are half the fun.

Next, get your hands dirty at the Tokoname Store Pottery Workshop Experience, which uses colorful MOM kitchen molds to make playful, functional pieces. It’s a relaxed way to absorb the local clay character—and bring home a self-made souvenir. Allow time for glazing/finishing options as advised on-site.

Evening: Wrap up with an early dinner before your flight: at the airport, Maruya Honten’s hitsumabushi is the Aichi classic; at Yabaton, the miso-katsu sandwich travels well. If you prefer chicken, Tori Sanwa’s Nagoya Cochin oyakodon balances rich, springy local chicken with silky egg. Depart from NGO in the afternoon/evening; the Meitetsu ride back is 5–7 minutes, so you can time it precisely.

Optional arrival/departure help: Prefer door-to-door service between NGO and Nagoya city? Reserve a shared or private ride, such as the Shared Arrival Transfer: Chubu Airport to Nagoya City or similar options listed for Centrair.

Booking quick links:

• Stays: Hotels.com Tokoname | VRBO Tokoname
• Flights: Trip.com | Kiwi.com | From Europe: Omio
• Japan trains: Trip.com trains

Viator activities used in this itinerary:

• Discover The Hidden Pottery Town of Tokoname
• Private Pottery Road Walking Tour in Tokoname
• Tokoname Store Pottery Workshop Experience
• Unlimited 5G SIM card for Japan (Centrair pickup)

In two days you’ll walk centuries of ceramic history, meet makers on the Pottery Footpath, and craft a piece of Tokoname clay for yourself. With easy airport access, soothing baths, and satisfying Nagoya fare, this short escape balances culture, comfort, and convenience.